Shin Jangshik: "Yoon Should Be Dragged Out by Force... 'Body Temperature Regulation' Claim Makes No Sense"

Kim Keonhee Special Prosecutor Team Fails to Arrest Former President Yoon
Reportedly Refused to Comply with Warrant, Removing Prison Uniform
Shin Jangshik: "Why Should the Public Bear This Shame?"

The special prosecutor team led by Min Jungki, which is investigating allegations related to Kim Keonhee, attempted to execute an arrest warrant for former President Yoon Sukyeol, who is currently detained at the Seoul Detention Center, but failed. In response, Shin Jangshik, a lawmaker from the Jookook Innovation Party, stated, "He should be dragged out of the detention center by force if necessary."

Former President Yoon Seokyeol is heading to Seoul Detention Center after completing the second pretrial detention hearing at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the 9th of last month. Photo by Joint Press Corps

Previously, Oh Jeonghee, the assistant special prosecutor for the Kim Keonhee investigation, stated at a regular briefing on August 1, "Former President Yoon firmly refused to be arrested, lying on the floor without even wearing a prison uniform." She added, "We did not attempt to make contact because it was anticipated that he would physically resist if approached while not fully dressed." She further explained, "Given that the timing of the arrest warrant execution was publicly announced through the media, it is appropriate to consider what it means for former President Yoon to greet the special prosecutor's team in such attire."

Regarding this, during an interview on MBC Radio's 'Kim Jongbae's Focus' on August 4, Representative Shin commented, "An AI-generated image of former President Yoon was released, and the public felt ashamed. Why should the public bear this shame?" He continued, "I am also a lawyer, but I have never seen anything like this. I have never heard of such a thing from others either." He added, "Two things came to mind as soon as I heard the news: children nowadays, often called 'Geumjjok,' lying down and throwing tantrums, and scenes from the 1990s where hired gangsters, when women tried to block demolitions, would enter wearing only underwear and wielding baseball bats."

When the host asked, "Former President Yoon's side claims that he was lying down in his underwear with the detention center's consent because he was unable to regulate his body temperature, and the special prosecutor's team barged in," Representative Shin replied, "That doesn't make sense." He said, "Minister of Justice Jeong Seongho clearly stated, 'He was wearing his prison uniform normally, but after being notified of his arrest, he took off his clothes; he undressed at the time of the arrest.' After being re-detained, former President Yoon was meeting more than 350 people a day, 6 to 7 times a day, in an air-conditioned meeting room, so he was regulating his body temperature well. The detention center also said, 'There are no health issues with him undergoing investigation,'" he countered.

Representative Shin emphasized, "There will be an investigation into Kim Keonhee on August 6. Therefore, another attempt to arrest former President Yoon will likely be made within today or tomorrow. As a general principle, physical force can be used to subdue someone when executing an arrest warrant. This principle needs to be reaffirmed in this case."

The vehicle of the Min Jungki Special Prosecutor's Team investigating allegations related to First Lady Kim Keonhee is leaving Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province, after failing to execute an arrest warrant for former President Yoon Sukyeol on the 1st. Photo by Yonhap News

Meanwhile, according to SBS, former President Yoon's side is reportedly preparing legal action against Minister Jeong Seongho for allegedly making false statements. Yoon's side claimed, "The detention cell was so hot and poorly ventilated at the time that it could have caused body temperature regulation problems. Due to possible autonomic nervous system damage from diabetes, he occasionally removed his prison uniform, and the detention center was aware and allowed this." They also stated, "The special prosecutor's team actually entered the inmate's living area while he was not wearing his prison uniform, attempted to forcibly move him, and even took photographs with a camera."

In other words, it is true that former President Yoon was in his underwear, but his side claims it was for health and body temperature regulation reasons, and that Minister Jeong made false statements without properly understanding these facts. Yoon's side added, "We requested that they consult with his attorney, who was waiting, but they ignored this on the grounds that the attorney's appointment had not been filed," and argued, "This can only be seen as a clear human rights violation disguised as compliance with legal procedures."